A Seven Soloist Concerto from One Found Sound

Posted by Jeffrey Freymann · 12/7/2018 12:00:50 AM

One Found Sound, the conductorless chamber orchestra now in its sixth season, features seven wind soloists (trumpet, trombone, horn, flute, oboe, bassoon, and clarinet) plus percussion in tonight’s concert at Heron Arts in San Francisco, as they play a program of music by Frank Martin, Reena Esmail, and Mozart. Group co-founders Sasha Launer and Emily Botel, and percussionist Divesh Karamchandani give a preview.

Frank Martin was a Swiss composer of the 20th Century who flutist Sasha Launer says had a unique musical language. “The Martin Ballade was the concerto that I played for every concerto competition. And so to be able to play this concerto, that’s for seven instruments plus percussion and strings, is a really exciting opportunity to explore more of his work. It’s a concerto for seven instruments and percussion. We have three percussionists, which is really exciting for us. And all of the different wind instruments, everyone has their own moments to shine on his really kind of intense style.” Percussionist Divesh Karamchandani, who nominated the piece to be included on this season’s schedule says it’s a showpiece for the versatility of the group. “There’s jazzy elements, and it’s just one of those things that I think our orchestra has developed the skill to do, without a conductor, is to breathe and play together… I really just wanted to play a timpani solo, but I also thought it would be a great opportunity to feature our wind section, who don’t always get featured. Especially some of our lower brass. So this is just an ensemble selection, essentially.” Emily Botel, like all the violinists, will be standing during the concert in the intimate venue, which (along with the absence of a conductor)sets One Found Sound apart. “It feels exhilarating for the audience, because many audience members who are not musicians have actually never heard these instruments this close before. And I forget that. I listen to my violin so close to my ear all day every day, and some people have maybe never heard a violin live, and maybe heard it up on a stage, and being so close to it, they’re hearing things they’ve never heard before.”